Grab A Spoonhttps://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com
Celebrating every crumb of life.
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1 http://wordpress.com/https://s0.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.pngGrab A Spoonhttps://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com
Avocado Avocadohttps://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/avocado-avocado-2/
https://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/avocado-avocado-2/#respondSun, 28 Apr 2013 21:15:31 +0000http://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/?p=383Yesterday morning I toured the streets of Jinja, Uganda. I passed by many fruit and vegetable stands, was introduced to new produces and embraced the freshness of the ingredients that surrounded me. Among the other fresh vegetables and fruit, I picked up this beauty. An Avocado. This is the biggest avocado I have ever seen, about 4-6 of avocados from home in just one!

If you know me, you know that avocados are my favourite food. (and I love food and eat everything, so it’s hard to be on top of the list!) Rich and creamy and delicious on or with basically everything. This avocado was quite possible the most delicious avocado I have ever eaten. Buttery and almost sweet form it’s richness. I was in food heaven!

I don’t just love avocados because of their flavour and texture, their are also very nutrient dense and filled with omega-3.

My favourite way to eat avocado is in a simple guacamole with lime, chili and garlic. It’s also delicious on toast with fresh tomato, with fish tacos, in salads or simply with salt&pepper and a spoon. YUM!

I will be spending the next few week in Uganda, Africa. I will be working with local organizations, including a boy’s home and orphanages, to implement nutrition plans while working with their budget. I look forward to expanding my knowledge in the markets, gaining experience in their kitchens and broadening my understanding of global nutrition, diet, ingredients and cooking techniques.

How did this happen?

I have always felt a draw towards those less fortunate with the theme of food and nutrition. Over the past few months I have connected with organizations overseas and the possibility of Uganda fell in my lap. Consequently, I saw this as an opportunity for my business to give-back and a credible cause and organization.

I am passionate about using local products, maximizing our resources and feeding back into the local economy. I do not believe in a “quick-fix”, rather value the importance of knowledge and understanding of our own resources. My goal is to bring better nutrients, an understanding of nutrition and teach the benefits and versatility of local products.

Mother Theresa once said “If you can’t nourish 100 people, then just nourish one”. So that is my goal, not with an ambition to save the world but rather, share my knowledge and skills, in hopes of benefiting to those in need. I have been blessed with an abundance knowledge, experience and skill and have now been called to share and serve. I look forward to learning and gaining perspective and I hope that this will be a time of giving back and understanding a greater need.

I genuinely want to thank you for supporting Hollie’s Catering, because you’re not just supporting me and the people at the farmers market, now you’re supporting nutrition needs overseas.

I am ecstatic for you to join me on this adventure and would love to hear any of your comments or questions!

]]>https://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/the-big-announcement/feed/2grabaspoonblogUgandaMonster Cookieshttps://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/monster-cookies/
https://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/monster-cookies/#respondWed, 10 Apr 2013 12:41:31 +0000http://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/?p=322Is there anything better then a fresh baked cookie and a tall glass of cold milk?…well living in the California would be nice, but I guess a cookie will do fine…for now.

Monster Cookies

What’s your favourite type of cookie?

Let me know, and maybe I’ll whip up a batch!

]]>https://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/monster-cookies/feed/0grabaspoonblogIMG_0027IMG_0029IMG_0034IMG_0042IMG_0045A Girl’s Night Outhttps://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/a-girls-night-out/
https://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/a-girls-night-out/#respondMon, 08 Apr 2013 13:14:41 +0000http://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/?p=343On Saturday night I had the privilege of being apart of ‘A Girl’s Night Out’. Local businesses came together to show off their services to the women of the community.

Hollie’s Catering Display Table

Display Table

Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream

Food Demonstration

Demonstrating Thai Green Papaya Salad

Free Cake winner will be

drawn tonight!

Stay Tuned!

]]>https://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/a-girls-night-out/feed/0grabaspoonblogHollie's Catering Display TableDisplay TableLemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream Food DemonstrationDemonstrating Thai Green Papaya SaladSom Tom ~ Papaya Saladhttps://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/05/som-tom-papaya-salad/
https://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/05/som-tom-papaya-salad/#respondSat, 06 Apr 2013 03:54:22 +0000http://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/?p=338Tonight I shared one of my favourite recipes that I learnt while studying Thai cuisine in Thailand. I had the privilege of doing a food demonstration at a local women’s event. It was a joy to make new connections and interact with other local businesses. I owe a big thanks to those who coordinated the evening!!

This salad is the perfect combination of sweet, salty and spicy. The soft papaya and roasted peanuts make for a great texture combination. I am in love with this salad!

Mix together garlic, lime juice, fish sauce,brown sugar in a bowl.
Add papaya, tomato wedges, green beans and chili into a big mixing bowl.
Stir in the garlic mixture into papaya bowl.
Adjust seasoning if necessary.
It should be mixture of sweet, sour and salty.
Served with sticky rice, white fish or grilled chicken.

Tips:

1. Taste along the way. Adjust the seasoning and spice level to your preference.
2. Don’t be afraid of fish sauce. It is an incredible salty ingredient…but if you are afraid then use soy sauce or rice vinegar.
3. I buy my green papaya at a the New World Supermarket in Kitchener. But if you don’t have green papaya, use carrots, mangoes or green apples.

Serve this salad at your next family BBQ and I’m sure they will love it!

This coming April I have been asked to be apart of a local Women’s Event. I will have a booth set-up promoting Hollie’s Catering, lots of sweet and savoury samples, as well as a food demonstration.

The main feature of my demonstration will be Thai food. This will allow me to showcase my Thai cooking techniques that I studied in Thailand last year. I will be making two of my favourite dishes, and there will be enough for everyone to share!

This food demonstration made for an excellent excuse to visit the local Asian Market. I have been itching to visit for sometime now and I am so glad that I did. This market brought me right back to Thailand. The distinct smell, aromatic herbs and spices, fresh fish, unique labels and more culinary possibilities then I could ever imagine. It was like a little piece of heaven. If you’re looking for a little adventure or a way to spice up your cooking, take a trip to the local Asian Market! It is worth the trip and your meals will thank you!

BBQ duck and Chicken.

Just a few of my purchases…

The Women’s event is on Friday, April 5th from 7-9:30 at the Elmira Pentecostal Church. It will be a night filled with all of your favourite things; shopping, spa packages, free samples and food!

Hint: Always remember to reserve some pasta cooking water when making fresh sauce. The starchy liquid will bring everything together and act as a thickening agent.

Have questions about cooking pasta? Curious about making your own sauce?
Need inspiration?Email me at holliejones@live.ca

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https://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/03/30/italian-inspired-pasta/feed/0grabaspoonblogIMG_0020Taco Saladhttps://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/taco-salad/
https://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/taco-salad/#respondMon, 25 Mar 2013 00:10:40 +0000http://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/?p=302This week I treated myself to an extra special lunch. A fresh taco salad in a homemade tortilla bowl. It was delicious!! Crisp veggies, light dressing and sharp cheese all in a flavourful and edible bowl!

This recipe is simple, fast and delicious.
It makes an excellent lunch for one or dinner for friends!

Enjoy!

]]>https://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/taco-salad/feed/0grabaspoonblogMaking an editable tortilla bowl. IMG_9980IMG_9990Using Surplus to Feed a Hungry World.https://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/using-surplus-to-feed-a-hungry-world/
https://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/using-surplus-to-feed-a-hungry-world/#respondWed, 20 Mar 2013 17:09:04 +0000http://grabaspoonblog.wordpress.com/?p=284With a heart for feeding the hungry I recently began to do some research on local food and aid organizations. I came across an organization called ‘Gleaners’. After stumbling across their website I was in complete awe. I sent out an email to the manager and a few days later I found myself touring the facility and connecting with volunteers.

Photo source: Gleaners website.

Their Mission

“The Ontario Christian Gleaners is an Interdenominational Christian organization that seeks to visibly demonstrate God’s love and grace by working with volunteers to collect, process, and make available surplus agricultural produce for the relief of the hungry in overseas nations.” – Mission Statement, Ontario Gleaners.

So what is ‘Gleaners’?

‘Gleaners’ is a volunteer driven organization, with over 1100 donated hours each week. Each day, the volunteers trim 5000+ pounds of donated vegetables from farms and factories, providing the ingredients for 30,000 servings of soup. The trimmed vegetables are diced and then dried in a dehydration oven – later to be combined with other ingredients to constitute the soup mix. The soup is donated to partner organizations who have the necessary infrastructure for effective distribution, who are committed to sustainability and development, and who combine the gospel message with humanitarian aid.

Side note: The vegetables are inspected by volunteers and all inedible pieces of the vegetables are discarded. But the discarded pieces do not go to waste, no, they are made into animal feed. No waste! Everything is used!

Donors

The Gleaners are supported entirely by donations. From the fresh and dried products that make their soup mixes to the funding for operating expenses. Donation and support comes from individuals, businesses, community groups and churches.

Photo source: Gleaners website.

Get involved

Volunteer:

Volunteers of all ages are welcome. There are jobs available to suit everyone.
Gleaners operates Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 12:00pm.

Donate:

The Gleaners are looking for farms, produce packaging and distribution companies and processing plants willing to donate their surplus and non-marketable produce to help feed a hungry world.

The Ontario Christian Gleaners is 100% donor driven. Supported by individual, church, and corporate donations. All funds donated are used to operate and maintain the facility.

Starting with Gluten-Free Mint Swirl Chocolate Brownies. These were a basic gluten-free brownie batter swirled with a cream cheese mixture that was flavoured with mint extract and green dye. They were fluffy, moist and delicious!

I also made Chocolate cupcakes topped with Bailey’s Frosting. The cupcake was fluffy and the frosting was rich and sweet! They definitely added some fun to the night!